Posted on 07/16/2006 9:04:08 AM PDT by MizSterious
OU death not linked to terrorism
By Nolan Clay
The FBI concluded a University of Oklahoma student who blew himself up last year on campus was not a terrorist, the top agent in Oklahoma says.
"We have no evidence he had a social or political agenda that he was trying to bring attention to," said Salvador Hernandez, the FBI's special agent in charge in Oklahoma.
"We don't consider this terrorism the way we define it," he said. "There would have to be a cause."
Joel "Joe" Henry Hinrichs III, an engineering student, died Oct. 1 when his bomb went off at a campus bench a short distance from an OU night football game.
Fans inside the packed stadium heard the blast during the second quarter of OU's game against Kansas State.
Hernandez spoke about the investigation to the media for the first time last week as he prepares to end his two-year stint in Oklahoma. He has been promoted to a new position with the FBI in Washington.
He disclosed the FBI interviewed more than 200 people during the bombing investigation but never found any evidence that Hinrichs had extremist views or ties to extremist groups.
Hernandez would not speculate whether the student intentionally set off the bomb on the bench as a suicide or if he also had intended to harm others and the bomb went off prematurely.
"None of us can know what was going on in his head," Hernandez told The Oklahoman.
Hernandez described Hinrichs, 21, as a loner who had a longtime interest in explosives.
Hinrichs, who was from Colorado Springs, Colo., was very bright, but his grades had slipped at OU, the agent said. Hinrichs belonged to the Triangle Fraternity, an organization of engineers, but just didn't seem to fit in, the agent said.
Hernandez said agents did not find any conclusive evidence Hinrichs tried to enter the stadium. They found no evidence he bought or tried to buy a football ticket, Hernandez said.
The top agent also said two ticket-takers who saw Hinrichs' photo in the media thought they might have seen him outside the stadium but they could not provide descriptive information when interviewed.
Agents viewed hours and hours of tapes from stadium security cameras but never spotted Hinrichs, Hernandez said.
Agents also turned up no evidence Hinrichs ever went to the mosque near his apartment, Hernandez said.
He said fellow students knew Hinrichs was interested in and had experimented with bombs and they should have reported it to law enforcement.
"People should be more vigilant or more responsible and bring this stuff forward," he said.
Officials said earlier that Hinrichs built the bomb from hydrogen peroxide and acetone. The explosive is known as triacetone triperoxide or TATP.
In the interview with The Oklahoman, Hernandez revealed these new details about the bombing:
Using receipts, agents determined Hinrichs bought the bomb ingredients from local retail stores a few days before. One store had a video camera and agents reviewed the tape from it. Hinrichs was alone.
Agents could not reconstruct much of what Hinrichs did the day of the bombing, a Saturday. They believe he was on the Internet in the morning. They believe about 6:15 p.m. he typed, "None of you are worth living with. You can all kiss my ass," on his apartment computer. They believe he then walked to where he died. The bomb went off about 7:30 p.m.
Hinrichs made a final payment on handlebars for his mountain bike a few days before the bombing.
Hinrichs apparently was carrying the TATP around in a plastic container and could have accidentally set the volatile bomb off by simply opening the container.
The bomb did not go off in Hinrichs' backpack.
FBI agents interviewed some witnesses who live in Europe and had dealt with Hinrichs on eBay, the Internet auction site.
Hi - this is just a small "heads up" for something developing here in Houston - actually, in Texas City, just south of Houston.
Yesterday, an apartment complex had an explosion that blew out one apartment, killing one person and hurting another. Didn't seem to get much coverage or attention. I kind of figured it was a meth lab, because there wasn't any explanation given. The FBI was involved, but that wasn't unusual.
Well, seems today the residents of the complex, a fairly large one, are not being let back into their apartments as they had anticipated.
Turns out, the FBI and other LE agencies (not sure which) had to process for evidence some highly volatile chemicals that they were afraid to transport, and which they had to detonate onsite.
Now they have barricaded the first-floor apartment with trucks, so no one can see what is happening. The FBI is going to have a press conference within the hour. I may not know the details from that until our afternoon news - approx 4.5 hours from now.
This has all the earmarks of being similar to Hinrichs' concoction, but I don't know that for sure. Will pass along any further info.
Here's the brief HouChron story snip:
~~~~~~
July 20, 2006, 9:28AM
Officials probe cause of Texas City blast that killed 1
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Officials were not yet releasing the identity today of a person killed Wednesday afternoon in a Texas City apartment explosion.
Texas City Sgt. Brian Goetschius said this morning that police have not been told what experts think the material responsible for the 3 p.m. blast might be.
He said local and federal officials were meeting today to decide how to clear the apartment of any remaining explosives.
The blast happened at the Lakeview Apartments in the 8000 block of the Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.
~~~~
And a snip from an AP story:
" ... Authorities recovered explosive materials at the scene, but say they don't believe terrorism was involved.
Law officers want to interview the survivor. He was treated for burns and released from a hospital.
Authorities say at least two nearby apartment units also were damaged. ... "
~~~~~
Add'l update: Bomb Squad of HouPD is onsite now - TV is showing helicopter overhead shots - the trucks are dump trucks with their back compartments raised, with the back of the trucks in front the apartment in question. It is believed they will be detonating now. The bomb squad has pushed everyone back to clear a 2-mile perimeter (!!). The same dump trucks had been used to transport some of the evidence found previously. Presser is at 3PM CentralDT.
TV said it's streaming the helo shot live at http://www.abc13.com
I don't have a player on this PC, so can't verify it.
bttt, thanks, well he took shrapneled ordnance to a game to explode. So we'll call him a mass-murderist if that's how the FBI wants it.
He did NOT try to get into the stadium. There is NO evidence that he did.
If the FBI says so, then it must be so. Bullllllllllllllllllllloney!
Interesting. That's similar to what happened in an apartment building on the UCLA campus several months back.
Does anyone know anymore about the bomb scare at the Los Angeles Library a few days ago?
Or perhaps you're missing a sarcasm tag? I do that all the time.
More updates now - presser may be starting shortly
Apartment resident was mixing chemicals when the chrmicals blew up.
Other apartment residents heard a 2nd loud explosion this morning - that was the LE detonation. They are still finishing the evacuation of the whole complex, opening a 2nd Red Cross shelter and dealing with getting everyone's pets out and cared for.
OK - doesn't look like they're going to start right now, after all. Will update when I hear something. There may be streaming video coming up at http://www.khou.com as well as the previous link I gave. Not sure, but I think khou might make you sign up to get in.
Thanks.
I remember there was a cluster of explosions within a short time after the OU one - in GA and LA - those two stand out, maybe two in GA? Some were or one was a pop bottle "bomb" of some kind.
Then there was the break-in at the OU chem lab basement by the Eldridge boy and a partner in crime - I didn't follow completely through on that. Oh, and an unexplained, I think, explosion in somewhere like Choctaw near a football field and/or middle school?
Sorry to be so foggy on all that.
Presser now a minute away from starting.
OK, now starting. Texas City officials: owner, Mr. Nixon, of the Lakeview Apts. complex, and Police Chief of TX City, Robert Burby.
Apt #2009 - explosion in that apt at 3PM yesterday. Killed one person and hurt another. Very dangerous substances. Many more were in the apartment, too volatile to move. Detonated this morning. Another detonation will take place at 1PM. Thank you.
Police Chief - just wanting to make sure the zone is clear where the blast will take place. Thanking them for their cooperation.
FBI special agent in charge of bombs, answering press questions. Kasey Salway.
Believes it to be a peroxide-based substance, not yet verified, but believes it to be TATP (I guessed right) - it is a very large amount. It is in solid form (asked if liquid or powder). Can't estimate by weight - there are numerous containers of it.
It is too volatile to friction or movement to even sample it to identify it, but from what they've seen before, they believe it to be TATP.
(He said he has seen similar type substances last year! Oh, he said "overseas.") (Well, that *could* be OK, lol.)
Will place a small explosive charge to the substance. The heat will burn it up completely. Won't be a large amount of damage.
Media asks about what type of person did this - he can't answer that. I can't hear all the press questions, but evidently someone asked about terrorism and he said they are following the evidence and can't say more about that.
Was this actually mixed there in the apartment? Yes, we believe so. Has the 2nd person been arrested? Yes
Matthew Rugo - name of the deceased, 21 - student at Mainland College - apt leased in his mother's name
Curtis Jetton - the guy in custody - for providing false info - $10,000 bond
Should people be concerned that there is more substance around town? No, we have no evidence to suggest that.
304 units in the apt complex. They don't believe the detonation will destroy the whole building.
The police do have a robot, but it can't used for this.
Not taking time to proof this - hope it makes sense. They are still talking casually, but I want to post the substance of it.
Baloney. That's the official story, but witnesses DID see him trying to get into the stadium.
Have you seen this yet?
Bless you for transcribing this!! My goodness, lots to think about from this, and some research, too--who are these guys, I wonder--more jihadists in training? We know from the OU case that a bomber need not always be "swarthy." Drat, I have to leave for a few hours, but when I come back I'll see what I can find.
Pinging a few folks who might be interested in this possibly related story--see posts #101 & 110 by Rte66.
Nothing was really added the last minute or so and they cut back to programming. They are going to go live to the detonation at 1PM on at least one station, maybe more. That's less than 10 minutes from now. Will add whatever then. BOOMER!
Wow... Thanks for posting the info Rte66 and thanks very much for the ping mizsterious. So many of these college students and young people nowadays are brainwashed to believe the US(gov't) is their enemy and sympathize with the terrorists. I fear we will only see more of this...
Well, I just had a puter problem - very bizarre - while I was making notes while waiting for the detonation. It has not happened yet, BTW.
They started having storms in the area, then they started moving towards me, but aren't here yet. I had to reboot because my browser, for no apparent reason, just srtarted opening hundreds of pages and wouldn't close them down.
Anyway, I lost the notes I made, but they weren't really significant. Still waiting for the blast, lol! They have the Interstate (I-45) closed down both ways for several miles. Other streets all around are also shut down. They have evac'ed several other apt complexes around there, too.
Lots of yelling among the bomb people going on now, but just like instructions and all that. BTW, the BATF is also on this case - but didn't participate in the press conference. I'll be back when anything happens to post about, assuming I'm not in a storm or lose my notes.
Oh wait. Reporter says she has talked with Curtis Jetton's grandmother. The family is very concerned.
Jetton's mother is on her way back to Houston, is a long-distance truck driver and getting back. He has emotional, social problems - he is easily misunderstood and confused - needs representation. Curtis is 21, just moved in two weeks ago. He is bi-polar and may have problems in a jail cell.
Reporter said grandmother thinks this was "just a big firecracker" to the "boys." Rugo had had problems in the past, but had gone to class for a year and a half, every day, had straightened out.
They're now thinking it's going to be within a few minutes. Back later.
Thanks again. 'Big firecracker' bump.
Smoke coming out now. No loud concussion! Nothing much at all. Done deal. LE going back into the apt now. Huh.
Reporter on the ground heard sort of a bang, rather "uneventful" and that was it - 2 miles away. Didn't feel any rumble. The thunder has been much louder and more rumbling. Apparently, that is all!
Oh, one other thing. In the notes I lost in reboot - they said Rugo was cooking this on the stove when it went off. I don't think we ever knew Hinrichs's "method."
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